Places are available on a training course in April to learn the skills to undertake memorial works to an industry standard within burial grounds in Shetland.
Participants on the three-day course will learn how to dismantle unsafe memorials and how to prepare and re-erect memorials, ensuring they are stable and secure. This will include training in the safe movement and lifting of memorial components using levers, rollers, slings and a block and tackle where necessary, and the preparation and construction of new foundations with concrete.
This training course will increase the number of local memorial masons to install new memorials and carry out repairs to existing memorials in Shetland. The course costs £499 per person and leads to the SQA Award “Fix and Secure Memorial Masonry” which would then allow individuals to apply to Shetland Islands Council to undertake memorial works in burial grounds in Shetland.
The course will take place from Tuesday 4th to Thursday 6th April 2023, based at Islesburgh Community Centre and the Knab Cemetery in Lerwick.
Carl Symons, Executive Manager – Environment and Estate Services, said: “This is an opportunity for anyone with some experience to learn skills and gain a qualification as a memorial mason. This would increase the number of memorial masons locally and help to maintain the memorials in Shetland’s burial grounds in future.”
More details on the “Fix and Secure Memorial Masonry” Award (HA1J 04) are available on the SQA website. For more information or to register, please contact the Council’s Burial Services team on 01595 744853 or burials@shetland.gov.uk